The legislation, which was approved by the Senate 94 to 6 prior to Thanksgiving, authorizes $7.9 billion for operating expenses and $2.6 billion for construction, renovation, and facilities improvement.

It also authorizes active duty of 43,000 personnel for fiscal year 2018 and more than 44,000 personnel for fiscal year 2019.

LoBiondo says this new legislation will allow the Coast Guard to continue their outstanding work and he is honored to have been able to serve them in Congress.

LoBiondo retires from Congress in January after serving as the Congressman for the second congressional district for 24 years.